Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c13.5

v2.c13.5

³ Or : the fiery part; or : the light-element (taijasam guṇam). Tejas is here probably to be taken in a twofold sense : first, as light, for the eyes are the instrument of seeing, which is dependent on light; second, as fire, glow, passion, for from the eyes also, and from them first of all, love and erotic excitement is born, as may be likewise read in Indian literature. It would be possible to take taijasam guṇam = rājasam guṇam = "carrying the material ingredient, passion (rajas)." "The senses are tejas-natured, that is, rajas-natured" (Saurapurāṇa, xxi, 9).